From evidence to action: X Factor event round up

On 6 February 2018, we held a unique ‘X Factor’ style event that illustrated the diverse types of evidence that could be used to inform decision making on issues concerning the public’s health.

Experts across a diverse range of industries and specialisms – including history, law and sociology – submitted essays discussing how they would use evidence to resolve a topical public health challenge: childhood obesity. Five essayists were chosen to pitch their ideas live on the night:

Dr Alex Mold, Associate Professor in History and Director of the Centre for History in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Alex’s research interests range widely over the recent history of public health.

Brendan McGetrick, American author, designer and curator. Brendan has lectured at universities throughout the world, including Princeton University, the London School of Economics, the Berlage, and Tsinghua University.

Dr Marisa de Andrade, Lecturer in Health, Science & Society and Associate Director at the Centre for Creative-Relational Inquiry at the University of Edinburgh. Marisa is currently pursuing a bold programme of research – Measuring Humanity – that questions ‘what is evidence?’

Professor John Coggon, Professor of Law, and Co-Director of the Centre for Health, Law, and Society, at the University of Bristol School of Law. John has published widely on questions concerning the roles of law and governance, and the place of ethics, in public health.

Professor Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London. Corinna’s expertise is on the development and design of food policies to support healthy diets, nutrition and public health throughout the food system.

Find out more

Download the five essays presented during the event

You can also have a look at our post-event blog, which covers insights and observations from the evening.

You can also keep on top of our latest work in this area by signing up for alerts on our healthy lives work.